Computer Cud    Vatican II asks us to read the Bible every day,   'to have a burning love'   for the Word of God           Resolution

This plan follows the Sunday liturgy:  reading + psalm + reading + gospel               From  www.simplebible.info              Previous Bible Blogs 

O Holy Spirit, may these passages give me hope, wisdom, compassion, courage and peace for my daily life     Chinese text

  Reading:  Genesis 43 

The famine continued
and so Jacob sent his sons back to Egypt to buy more grain.

This time Benjamin went with them,
even though Jacob worried greatly about his safety.

When the brothers arrived in Egypt
Joseph invited them to his home for a meal.
Simeon was allowed to join them.

The brothers still didn't recognize Joseph.
Joseph was moved when he saw Benjamin, his full blood brother.
Joseph left the company and cried for quite some time.

When Joseph rejoined the meal
he gave the brothers a hearty meal which they all enjoyed.
Joseph arranged that Benjamin's portion was extra large.

Reflection: 
When Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, he would have been very bitter and sad. But in the reading above he is starting to soften his attitude. He is starting to forgive his brothers. As a person of power he could have exacted revenge, but he chose the path of reconciliation.  On the other side of the coin (as comes out in the movie Joseph, King of Dreams), the brothers no doubt had feelings of guilt and sorrow for what they had done. A powerful story that has a happy ending (coming...)

Prayer: Dear God, please help troubled families to work towards reconciliation

Reading: Psalm 28

To you, O Lord, I call, my rock, hear me.
If you do not heed, I shall become like people in the grave.

Lord, you are my strength and my shield.
In you my heart trusts.

Thank you, Lord, for so often hearing my prayer.
I will always thank and praise you.

You are the strength of your people Israel.
Save your people. Be our shepherd and carry us for ever.

Reflection:
Most people, most of the time, remember God's help only when everything else fails. If we turn to him for help as soon as a problem begins...rather than wait till the problem is huge .... the problem will be solved sooner rather than later

Prayer: Lord, please help us turn to you for help sooner rather than later

Reading:  Galatians 5

When self-indulgence is at work, the results are obvious: sexual irresponsibility, sorcery, feuds and wrangling, jealousy and drunkenness

What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, truthfulness, gentleness and self-control

You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent desires

Let us be directed by the Spirit. We must stop being conceited, provocative and envious

Reflection: 
To avoid self-indulgence ("si")  we need Spirit-influence ("SI")

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please increase your influence in my life

Reading:  Luke 2

When the baby was circumcised on the 8th day, he was given the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him 9 months before

When Jesus was 40 days old, his parents took him to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as the Law required

In Jerusalem there was an old man named Simeon. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that before he died,  he would see the Christ of the Lord

Prompted by the Spirit, he came to the Temple, took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying

"Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, for my eyes have seen the Savior. He is a light to enlighten the pagans, and he is the glory of your people Israel"

Reflection:
Simeon is a good example of 
"Spirit influence"...open to the "prompting" of the Holy Spirit....open to the voice of God in our hearts

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please help me be more aware of your prompting each day